The Syracuse tennis team hits the courts tonight for its first meet since Nov. 10, when the Orangewomen completed their fall schedule at the Eck Classic in South Bend, Ind.

Syracuse faces Colgate tonight at 6 at Drumlins Tennis Center. Since the Orangewomen have been off for more than two months, this meet should be an opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of winter workouts and map out a strategy for the rest of the season.

‘We haven’t had any matches right now,’ senior Daniela Kaluskova said, ‘so it’s hard to say what we need to work on. We hope to play better than last year and play better in the Big East.’

Syracuse dominated doubles play throughout most of the fall season, which is generally used as a training period for the spring’s more intense and important competition. Syracuse beat Colgate in three doubles matches at the Cornell Tournament in September, kicking off the season for two successful duos. Kaluskova and freshman Wei-Ming Leong teamed up for a 12-5 fall doubles record, and seniors Masha Kabanova and Shervin Saedinia went 11-5.

‘Two subpar singles players, if they know how to play doubles,’ head coach Mac Gifford said, ‘can beat the best two singles players in the world in doubles, no problem.’

That seems to be the case for the Orangewomen, who have had some trouble in singles play despite stellar doubles performances. Syracuse singles is not without hope, though — sophomore Kristine Bech Holte currently leads SU with a 9-5 singles record.

‘She’s probably the most solid person in the lineup,” Gifford said. “She’s pretty much unbeatable at her position.”

Tonight’s spring-season opener will reveal just how solid the lineup is before SU’s first conference meet Feb. 7 at Boston College.

Colgate ranks third in the Patriot League’s preseason coaches’ poll behind American and Army. Senior Lauren Erickson and sophomore Marissa Alikpala, an all-league selection last year, lead the Raiders.

As Syracuse gears up for the toughest half of its season, one thing remains clear.

‘There’s no such thing,’ Gifford said, ‘as a sure win.’

Staff writer Pete Freedman contributed to this story.

Published on January 28, 2003 at 12:00 pm